Albert Finch

Albert Finch (16 May 1926 – 23 January 2003) was a British boxer from Croydon in South London, who was active from 1945 to 1958. He fought as both a middleweight and light-heavyweight, becoming British middleweight champion in 1950.

He was one of seven children and learnt to box at the age of eight. He had a successful amateur career, winning 63 out of 68 contests.

Professional career

He had his first professional fight on 14 August 1945 at the Queensbury Club, Soho, London. He fought a draw over six rounds against Eddie Starrs.

He continued to build up a successful domestic record with the odd defeat. In October 1948 he beat Mark Hart for the Southern Area middleweight title, winning on points over 12 rounds.

In April 1948, he fought the promising young middleweight, Randolph Turpin, at the Royal Albert Hall, and inflicted Turpin's first defeat, winning on points over eight rounds.

In June 1949, he challenged Dick Turpin, elder brother of Randolph, for his British and Commonwealth middleweight titles. The fight was held in Birmingham and Turpin won on points over fifteen rounds.

In April 1950, he had a re-match with Dick Turpin, who in the meantime had lost his Commonwealth title. The fight was held in Nottingham and Finch won on points over fifteen rounds after having been knocked down twice. He was now the British middleweight champion.

Finch held the British title for only six months before losing it to Dick Turpin's brother, Randolph in October 1950. They met at Harringay Arena, and Turpin, who had a powerful punch, knocked Finch out in the fifth round.

Finch began to find it difficult to make the middleweight weight limit and so moved up to fight as a light-heavyweight. Following the Turpin defeat, he had a run of seven straight victories against light-heavyweights before fighting Don Cockell for his British and European light-heavyweight titles. The fight was in October 1951, at the Harringay Arena, and Cockell won by a knockout in the seventh round.

He continued fighting as a light-heavyweight and in November 1954 he had another attempt at the British light-heavyweight title when he fought the holder, Alex Buxton, in Birmingham. Unfortunately, he suffered another knockout, this time in the eighth round. By fighting at the heavier weight he was meeting heavier punches and so suffered more knockouts than previously.

In March 1956, he had a third attempt at the British light-heavyweight title when he fought Ron Barton for the vacant title. The fight at Harringay Arena ended with Barton winning by a technical knockout in the eighth round. This was his last title fight.

He continued fighting, with mixed success. One notable victory was a win by disqualification against Jim Cooper, Henry Cooper's twin brother, in Stockholm. He had his last fight in March 1958, losing by a knockout in the third round against Noel Trigg.

Retirement

After his retirement he worked at a meat market in Croydon and was active in assisting youthful boxers. He died in 2003 at the age of 76 years.

Professional boxing record

72 Wins (21 knockouts, 50 decisions, 1 DQ), 21 Losses (9 knockouts, 11 decisions, 1 DQ), 9 Draws, 1 No Contest
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	15–4	Noel Trigg	KO	3	17 March 1958	Cheltenham Town Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Draw	5–2	Ron Redrup	PTS	8	3 February 1958	Leyton Baths, Leyton, England
Draw	15–3–2	Jack Whittaker	PTS	8	13 January 1958	Cheltenham Town Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–9–1	Tony Dove	PTS	10	3 October 1957	Corn Hall, Norwich, Norfolk
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	30–15–2	Willie Armstrong	PTS	8	21 August 1957	Ice Rink, Paisley
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	17–2	Manuel Burgo	KO	2	29 July 1957	Engineer's Club, West Hartlepool, County Durham
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–5	Jim "Twin George" Cooper	DQ	7	19 May 1957	Johanneshovs Isstadion, Stockholm
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19–5–1	Terrence Murphy	PTS	12	26 March 1957	Streatham Ice Arena, Streatham, England	BBBofC Southern Area Light Heavyweight Title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	11–0–1	Erich Schoppner	PTS	8	3 February 1957	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23–6–3	Serge Leveque	PTS	8	28 December 1956	Masshallen, Gothenburg
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–0	Andre Cottyn	TKO	10	8 September 1956	Ostend, West Flanders
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	20–1	Ron Barton	TKO	8	13 March 1956	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London	BBBofC Light Heavyweight Title.
Draw	10–1	Uwe Janssen	PTS	8	22 January 1956	Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	36–2–3	Charles Colin	PTS	10	30 October 1955	St. Nazaire Stadium, Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Atlantique
Draw	31–13	Fred Powell	PTS	8	4 October 1955	Streatham Ice Arena, Streatham, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	72–20–1	Alex Buxton	KO	8	9 November 1954	Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands	BBBofC Light Heavyweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25–2–1	Marcel Limage	TKO	9	18 May 1954	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–1–2	Arthur Howard	TKO	8	23 March 1954	Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London	BBBofC Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–3	Joe Bygraves	PTS	8	23 February 1954	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–9	Billy Dean	TKO	5	3 November 1953	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–14–1	Dave Williams	TKO	7	20 October 1953	Streatham Ice Arena, Streatham, England
Draw	14–1–1	Arthur Howard	PTS	8	13 October 1953	Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	60–19–5	Jimmy Davis	PTS	8	6 October 1953	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	40–20–4	Dennis Powell	PTS	10	8 September 1953	Park Hall, Oswestry, Shropshire
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	17–2	Wim Snoek	PTS	10	18 May 1953	Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–1	Charles Colin	PTS	10	25 April 1953	St. Nazaire Stadium, Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Atlantique
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	38–4–5	Gerhard Hecht	TKO	9	20 March 1953	Funkturm Berlin, Westend, Berlin
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25–18–2	Johnny Barton	PTS	8	16 February 1953	Leyton Baths, Leyton, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	8–2	George Walker	DQ	5	2 December 1952	Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London	BBBofC Southern Area Light Heavyweight Title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	7–2	George Walker	KO	6	28 October 1952	Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–10–2	Brian Anders	PTS	8	14 October 1952	Streatham Ice Arena, Streatham, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29–5–3	Garnett Denny	PTS	10	23 February 1952	Ulster Hall, Belfast
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23–15–6	Michel Lapourielle	TKO	8	13 February 1952	Brighton Dome, Brighton, Sussex
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21–35	Gene "KO" Fowler	TKO	5	21 January 1952	Leyton Baths, Leyton, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	54–9–1	Don Cockell	KO	7	16 October 1951	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London	BBBofC/EBU Light Heavyweight Titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–11–5	Billy Wood	TKO	5	29 May 1951	Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–6	Dave Williams	TKO	5	16 May 1951	Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–9–1	Paddy Slavin	PTS	10	30 April 1951	Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–7–1	Johnny McGowan	TKO	9	19 March 1951	Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19–15–3	Don Mogard	PTS	8	26 February 1951	Leyton Baths, Leyton, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–12–1	Jackie "Kid" Harris	PTS	8	12 February 1951	Leyton Baths, Leyton, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31–17–8	Reg Spring	PTS	8	22 January 1951	Leyton Baths, Leyton, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	31–2–1	Randy Turpin	KO	5	17 October 1950	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London	BBBofC Middleweight Title. Finch knocked out at 1:02 of the fifth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–7	Albert Heyen	PTS	10	27 September 1950	Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd
Draw	55–12–3	Cyrille Delannoit	PTS	10	21 July 1950	Ostend, West Flanders
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	77–19–6	Dick Turpin	TKO	8	3 July 1950	Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0–2–1	Eli Elandon	PTS	10	26 June 1950	Town Hall, Northampton, Northamptonshire
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	Juan Torrecillas	TKO	3	12 June 1950	Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	77–17–6	Dick Turpin	PTS	15	24 April 1950	Nottingham Ice Stadium, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire	BBBofC Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	30–6–3	Joe Beckett	PTS	10	29 March 1950	Norwich, Norfolk
Draw	37–9–1	Mel "The Rondo Street Jinx" Brown	PTS	10	13 March 1950	Streatham Ice Arena, Streatham, England
Draw	35–13–1	Allan Cooke	PTS	8	21 February 1950	West Ham Baths, West Ham, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	10–13–2	Baby Day	PTS	10	7 February 1950	Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–14–2	Jimmy Ingle	KO	4	5 December 1949	Leeds Town Hall, Leeds, Yorkshire
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–4	Albert Heyen	PTS	10	14 November 1949	Davis Theatre, Croydon, London
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	21–15–4	Bert Hyland	PTS	8	24 October 1949	Leyton Baths, Leyton, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28–0–1	George "Rockabye" Ross	PTS	10	4 October 1949	Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27–22–6	Bert Sanders	PTS	8	18 August 1949	Stadium, Dartford, Kent
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	72–15–6	Dick Turpin	PTS	15	20 June 1949	St Andrews Stadium, Birmingham, West Midlands	BBBofC/Commonwealth Middleweight Titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21–13–5	Bob Cleaver	KO	7	24 May 1949	Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19–14–4	Bert Hyland	PTS	8	21 April 1949	Manor Place Baths, Walworth, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–19–1	Des Jones	PTS	8	10 March 1949	Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	74–10–3	Luc van Dam	PTS	10	24 January 1949	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–8–1	Doug Myers	TKO	6	13 December 1948	Manor Place Baths, Walworth, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28–6–3	Mark Hart	PTS	12	11 October 1948	Acacia Hall, Croydon, London	BBBofC Southern Area Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22–16–5	Bert Sanders	PTS	10	10 August 1948	Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31–10	George Dilkes	PTS	8	11 June 1948	Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, Belle Vue, Manchester
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–7–3	Frederick Jock Taylor	TKO	7	8 June 1948	Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–0–1	Randy Turpin	PTS	8	26 April 1948	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22–17–2	Pat Mulcahy	TKO	6	15 December 1947	Leyton Baths, Leyton, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–8	Geoff Heath	PTS	8	10 December 1947	Acacia Hall, Croydon, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	38–12–6	Al Marson	PTS	8	28 November 1947	Plumstead Baths, Plumstead, England
No Contest	7–2–1	Jack Johnson	NC	4	1 July 1947	London Olympia, Kensington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9–4	Freddie Price	PTS	8	28 April 1947	Green Pond Road, Walthamstow, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	22–3–1	Mark Hart	PTS	12	16 April 1947	Manor Place Baths, Walworth, London	BBBofC Southern Area Middleweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–7–2	Jimmy Ingle	PTS	8	11 March 1947	Seymour Hall, Marylebone, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–6–1	Bert Hyland	TKO	6	11 February 1947	Regents Crest Hotel, Marylebone, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	161–30–17	Arthur Sadd	PTS	8	21 January 1947	Seymour Hall, Marylebone, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–5	Tommy Braddock	PTS	8	17 December 1946	Beckenham Baths, Beckenham, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	41–57–5	Paddy Roche	PTS	8	3 December 1946	Margate, Kent
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–5	Frank Hayes	PTS	8	28 November 1946	Ramsgate, Kent
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–4–1	Alby Hollister	PTS	8	19 November 1946	Seymour Hall Baths, Marylebone, England
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	21–3	Mark Hart	PTS	12	23 October 1946	Grand Theatre, Clapham, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	41–55–5	Paddy Roche	TKO	8	14 October 1946	Beckenham Baths, Beckenham, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–1–1	Harry Groves	PTS	10	9 October 1946	Grand Theatre, Clapham, London
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	65–1–1	Vince Hawkins	PTS	8	17 September 1946	Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–12–2	Jim Hockley	PTS	8	9 July 1946	Town Hall, Willesden, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–1–1	Jimmy Stewart	PTS	8	25 June 1946	Brighton Dome, Brighton, Sussex
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–11–2	Johnny "Kid" Blake	PTS	8	31 May 1946	Agricultural Hall, Maidstone, Kent
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	30–5–2	Harry Watson	TKO	5	25 March 1946	Greenwich Baths, Greenwich, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	0–2	Frank Hayes	PTS	8	19 March 1946	Beckenham Baths, Beckenham, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–4–1	Billy Cottrell	PTS	8	25 January 1946	Manor Place Baths, Walworth, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	39–52–5	Paddy Roche	PTS	8	24 January 1946	Assembly Rooms, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–3–1	Billy Cottrell	TKO	5	16 January 1946	Beckenham Baths, Beckenham, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–6–1	Jim Hockley	PTS	8	7 January 1946	Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	43–10–1	Jim Laverick	PTS	8	18 December 1945	Queensbury Club, Soho, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28–24–5	Jack Lewis	PTS	6	3 December 1945	Plumstead Baths, Plumstead, England
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28–23–5	Jack Lewis	PTS	8	13 November 1945	Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–28–3	Cyril Johnson	KO	2	6 November 1945	Queensbury Club, Soho, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–4–1	Jim Hockley	PTS	6	20 October 1945	Kingston Baths, Kingston, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	--	Ted Baxter	PTS	6	9 October 1945	Caledonian Road Baths, Islington, London
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–1–2	Gordon Griffiths	PTS	6	11 September 1945	Queensbury Club, Soho, London
Draw	--	Eddie Starrs	PTS	6	14 August 1945	Queensbury Club, Soho, London

See also

• List of British middleweight boxing champions

External links

• Professional boxing record for Albert Finch from BoxRec